Red Haven Cottage

Lovely.

We stayed a week this summer in one of the places advertised as a “villa,” but the description didn't match what we found. These are older houses converted for holidays, so they can't really be compared with modern Swedish holiday homes. The many small rooms and crooked layout weren't what we expected, and the musty smell coming up from the basement was particularly unpleasant. There were several things that didn't work: broken sockets, loose switches, and broken lights. Some ventilation shafts had been temporarily taped over. The operator said the repairs would go on a “fall list,” which didn't satisfy us. The complex itself is fine, though it doesn't seem fully renovated. It could use some visual improvement, like replacing the dull metal fences around the houses with more attractive wooden ones. We were also forgotten when it came to being told about an important appointment with the chimney sweep. Having the chimney sweep suddenly turn up at the door left us surprised and unsure what was going on. The accommodation and service didn't meet our expectations.

We were given such a warm welcome, and the evening by the fireplace with the owner was a lovely part of our stay. The cottages have been restored with care and taste, and the main house, with its veranda, feels cozy. There's also a small, charming self-service shop in the village and plenty of ways to get outdoors. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to spend the last days of our Sweden trip. Västervik is 45 minutes away, and Bullerbyn is an hour away.

We still talk about the breakfast, and we enjoyed the sauna too. Canoes were available on the nearby lake. Our cottage was furnished with taste, like an old English manor house, and the hosts seemed to know what we needed before we asked. Evenings by the fire with a book and a glass of wine were just idyllic. A wonderful stay in Småland in the Swedish archipelago. Thanks for everything!